Spike: You know, I can go if you two don't want to. I am kind of an expert.

Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer, and Sunburst: [groans]

[train chugging]

[indistinct conversations]

Starlight Glimmer: [sighs] It's not that I don't want to go home. It's just that whenever I do, my dad treats me like a filly. Like nothing's changed since I was a foal.

Sunburst: Huh.

Starlight Glimmer: I know. I'm a horrible daughter.

Sunburst: N-No, no! My mom actually does kind of the same thing.

Starlight Glimmer: Really?

Sunburst: I don't even have to go home. She sends me letters constantly asking about my plans for the future. [imitating Stellar Flare] "You're a grown-up pony, Sunburst! You need a plan!" [sighs] I haven't been home in a while either.

Starlight Glimmer: Hmph. We'll just have to explain to our parents that we're on an important friendship mission so they can't bother us.

Sunburst: Do you really think that will work?

Starlight Glimmer: Nope!

[brakes hissing]

[train whistle]

[train chugging]

Sunburst: [sniffs, sighs] The great thing about home is it always stays just how you le—

[thud]

Sunburst: Augh!

Starlight Glimmer: Where did that come from?

[gate creaking]

Automated voice: Welcome to Sire's Hollow!

"Ever Essence": Essence?

Sunburst: Essence of what?

"Ever Essence": You tell me.

[spritz]

Sunburst: [coughing]

Starlight Glimmer: What is it?

Sunburst: Uh... chocolate maybe?

"Ever Essence": Not chocolate maybe. Chocolate definitely! And all of the benefits with none of the drawbacks.

Sunburst: Didn't this used to be a fruit stand?

"Ever Essence": I don't know what it used to be. The Sire's Hollow Development Committee determined what it is.

Sunburst: The Sire's Hollow Development what? Where do ponies buy fruit?

"Ever Essence": You can get a fruit smoothie two doors down.

Sunburst: All the shops are different. Everything's changed!

Starlight Glimmer: Not everything. That's the same as it ever was.

[door opens]

"Raspberry Latte": Sorry. Our bookstore's been declared a site of historical significance by the Sire's Hollow Preservation Society.

"Minty Mocha": You'll have to experience the books from here. That's why windows are see-through.

[door slams]

Sunburst: What?!

Starlight Glimmer: Preservation Society? What is happening around here?

Firelight: I'll explain it to you, sugarplum! [chuckles] You are just as cutesy-wutesy as ever!

Firelight: Now, I know you have your little job to do, but Stellar and I know the town a lot better than you two.

Stellar Flare: That's right! Neither of you have been home in ages. You're gonna need our help to succeed!

Starlight Glimmer: I guess that makes sense...

Firelight and Stellar Flare: [chuckling]

Stellar Flare: I already have some ideas!

Firelight: Me, too!

Sunburst: I think I liked it better when they were fighting.

[chalk tapping]

Firelight: Okay! Now that I've explained how Sire's Hollow was founded, we can start to explore all the possible friendship problems that might have developed over time.

Starlight Glimmer: [inhales] I appreciate the history lesson, Dad, but I need to find the problem now. In the present.

Firelight: Aw, now, hon-bun. How are you gonna do that without all the backstory, huh? Oh! Of course I know how hard it is for you to sit still and focus, soooo... would it help you pay attention to hold on to your bwankie?

Starlight Glimmer: [growling]

Stellar Flare: Now, you've had a little setback. But don't worry. I know exactly what you need to do.

Sunburst: Make a plan?

Stellar Flare: Already got one! Step one – interview the suspects. Step two – use your talents to solve the issue. Step three – get the Princess of Friendship to send you on more missions!

Sunburst: Mom! It does not work like that!

Stellar Flare: Uh-huh.

[beat]

Stellar Flare: [clears throat]

"Ever Essence": [poorly acted] Oh! Thank goodness you are here! These two ponies refuse to use my essences.

"Raspberry Latte": Maybe because we don't like to cover our natural scent!

Starlight Glimmer: And you're not any better! I'm not a filly! I'm a grown pony with a job to do, and I'll do it on my own!

Firelight: Well. I'll let you get to it then.

Starlight Glimmer: Great. Now we have to smooth things over with our parents on top of finding and solving a friendship problem.

Sunburst: It's almost like our relationship with our parents is the friendship problem.

Starlight Glimmer: You don't think that's it, do you?

"Cracked Wheat": [clears throat] That's what all of us think.

Starlight Glimmer: [groans, collapses] Why couldn't we have been sent to stop a war or something?!

Starlight Glimmer: Dad?

Firelight: Hello, Ms. Glimmer. How is your friendship problem search going? I only ask as an interested observer, since I know you are an adult who's capable of doing things without help from anypony else.

Starlight Glimmer: Actually... I think Sunburst and I figured out what it is.

Firelight: So Stellar and I weren't really helpful after all.

Starlight Glimmer: Well, we haven't actually solved it. And I don't think we can. Not without you.

Stellar Flare: [sniffs]

[spritz]

Stellar Flare: [coughing] Pungent. Ugh. [to Sunburst] Oh. Did you come by to be driven crazy by more of your mother's plans?

Sunburst: No, I came to apologize.

Stellar Flare: Well, it's going to take more than an apology to make up for telling me you don't want my help finding your friendship problem.

Sunburst: Oh, I'm not sorry for that. Starlight and I already figured out what the problem is.

Stellar Flare: This is a terrible apology.

Sunburst: Well, if you come with me and help fix it, I'll give you a better one.

Starlight Glimmer: Usually, Twilight or one of our other friends gets called to a place with a friendship problem to fix.

Sunburst: But Starlight and I realized we came here to fix a friendship problem we already had.